is it time to replace the heads? - how to tell?

[Tone]

The heads on my mahoganny Gon Bops have been getting harder and harder to tune lately. I can just about get them to "sound" in a very narrow range. If I go either way they start sounding very dull with no tone. Fortunately I can tune them a fourth apart around G and C which is fine for playing now.
Those heads came with the drums so I have no idea how old they are and how well they have been treated, I guess they hadn't been played that much until I got my hands on them. I think they are cow hide.
Does the tuning problem means that I have to replace the heads?
Rubbing some cow fat on the heads has helped but to enough.
I happen to go to Cuba next week and will try to buy some heads there through my teacher Jose Heladio. What should I look for when buying? What is a fair price? What size should I get? ( how do I measure my drums now) etcc...

I guess that when I get back I will have to start a post about how to install them.

Thanks for all your precious advice.
This forum is amazing JC!

Tone

[JohnnyConga]

Gon bop heads have been known to last a long time with proper care..Palm oil, manteca....as far as what is available in Cuba, couldn't tell ya. IF you can get mule skin , get it. remember thickness(skin) is different with each size conga. Price for skins in Cuba.....haggle with them, no more than maybe $20.oo a skin, that's fair and they'll love you forever, cause then they get to by food for the family. In my DVD I will be showing how to mount a head , but it won't be out for a while, still working on it....Have fun in Cuba..... wish I was going too!......"JC" Johnny Conga....

[Tone]

thanks johnny,

what about my question. Is the fact that tuning and getting a good sound a sign of the heads being to old, or is it something else?

tone

[Jongo]

I am having some trouble tuning my Matador conga. I have an old LP head on it and I think that it probably just needs to be replaced. As I am trying to tune up it seems like the head is not getting anymore tension on it beyond a certain point. Even when I am tuning it down it does not sound good. It looks like the head is worn out and has lost all of its elasticity. How long should a head last? I play everyday and try to take good care of my equipment. And this was a pretty old head but I want to make sure I am not wearing a head out before its time. I can see on the side of the head where it is stretched out and worn so it is pretty well done.

[Ivan]

Jongo & Tone,

It sounds like when you are tightening the lugs the skins are not building tension...? If that's the case it may also be your lugs - make sure the threads on either the lugs or the nuts are not stripped.

If not, than purchasing new skins is definately a good idea. After you get your new skins go to a hardward store a buy a bunch of washers. On my bongos, because I tune them really tight so frequently, I added four washers to each lug. This way it's much longer before i run out of thread on the lug and I don't have to spend so much time tunning each head.

My buddy Isaac in NJ is always a good source for purchasing skins and other percussion products.

Email him:
funkytradition@yahoo.com

Ivan

[Jongo]

Hey Ivan, yeah the skins are not building tension past a certain point. The lugs are OK I just need to buy a new head. I have an old conga that I had added some washers onto the tuning lug so could tune it. It works, and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
I bought a JCR timbale bell from Isaac the other day. I love those JCR bells. I will definitely keep Isaac in mind. Thanks Ivan
Juan

[untaltumbador]

Tone

Before buying other heads, this is what I would do if I was in your situation, I would take the head/s off and place it in a water bath until it gets real soft, it may take over night, once this is done I would then let it air dry until all the water is out, the skin is still wet, once the skin is somewhat dry I would mount it on the drum with all its hardware but I would not tighten any thing, not just yet, at this time I would secure some leather friendly oil or grease and apply a good coat onto the skin, I would rubbed it in deeply so that it gets in the grain, then I would let it dry under the Sun preferably (naturally)and just sit back and wait. Once the skin is dry and hard as it was, as leather can get, then I would try to tune the drum.
I would try all this because this pretty much how you would install a brand new, skin. Also what do you have to loose?
If nothing else new life can be restored to this old head or if not there is no other choice but to buy a new one head
Tell me about your lesson in Cuba!



Edited By untaltumbador on 1103147585

[Isaac]

I've found that my cow skin heads lasted on
average 2 -3 years of their optimum sound.
I've switched mainly to mule in the mid 90s
and I'm playing on some of them still.
I'll post a message here when the new
shipment of mule skins and pre-mounted heads arrive.
They've already left Colombia and I expect them
shortly.
~ ISAAC ~
funkytradition@yahoo.com (732) 432-0609
percussionist / Auth. Rep. for JCR Percussion

[lido66]

I happen to go to Cuba next week and will try to buy some heads there through my teacher Jose Heladio. What should I look for when buying? What is a fair price? What size should I get? ( how do I measure my drums now) etcc...

Hey Tone
Jose Eladio is my teacher too. What are you going to learn about on this trip? I am in london alot (based in cambridge) - you play any rumba down there?


martin

[CongaTick]

I'm getting the impression from this thread and past posts that muleskin is the best replacement head, though some would argue the point. I have a set of SamAsh Ardientes, and though I realize SamAsh/LP percussion doesn't rank high on the list of this forums pros, they're quite serviceable. Though still in excellent shape am looking to replace the standard LP stock rawhide heads with those that may give me a bit more crispness, and make the most of the beautiful Siam oak shells. I know technique is a factor, but setting that aside for a moment, if these were your drums, what-if any- heads would you use for replacement? And yes, I'm even open to considering plastic.

[Isaac]

Mule Skins
~ the Annual Shipment Has Arrived ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Conga colleagues,
The mule skins from Venezuela & Colombia have finally arrived. Many of you have already ordered some. . .They come in the standard LP sizes
11", 11.75" & 12.5". There's thin, medium, and a little less of the thick ones. Also received 18" & 22" , and 16" (bongo)unmounted/untreated mule skins. These are the skins we mount on the JCR handmade congas & bongos. They're a pleasure to
touch and play on and will outlast any other
type of head - their soft and supple yet
super durable and strong. Please contact me
for pictures / pricing. ~ ISAAC
funkytradition@yahoo.com
(732) 432-0609



Edited By Isaac on 1104794167